Issuu

A quarterly journal of Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Renewed

Commitment

INFUSING PRAYER IN YOUR LIFE

GOD HAS ALWAYS WALKED WITH US 12 TRUTH LOST, AND FOUND AGAIN

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

A TIME FOR TRANSFORMATION In the new year, many of us seek to make resolutions for better living. Yet, more important than the resolutions we make for ourselves, such as getting fit, saving money, or starting a new hobby, is that we take time to renew our commitment to Jesus. The relationship we nurture with the Lord does not only set the tone for our year, but our whole life. I wrote about cultivating a personal relationship with God in the book Transformation: Biblical Spiritual Metamorphosis. I pray the following excerpt will be a blessing to you. “Son of Man” was the most common phrase Jesus used to refer to Himself. This phrase means—an incomprehensible mystery—that Christ, the anointed of God, who was “equal to God,” (Philippians 2:5-6) became “like unto men” (Philippians 2:7), taking human nature. For more than three decades, Jesus lived our life demonstrating in a real and practical way what man can be and do if he lives in constant communion with the Father. Everything Jesus did, does, and will do, molds directly the life of a man who tries to live the life of Christ. Our Heavenly Father desires that His children be restored to the image of the invisible God made visible in the person of Jesus for the salvation of humanity. Ever since sin entered this world, the human race has lived literally condemned to sickness, gradual deterioration, and death. The saddest thing is not understanding that someday we will die, but to realize that while we live, we are subject to inexplicable tensions manifested in the ethical and moral spheres. In other words, most sensible humans try to live a good life. At the very least, they try to follow the basic rules of what culture has defined as right, acceptable, and fair. However, reality indicates that although they make a good effort, they do not feel this is enough, possible, or real, especially when compared with the perfect life of Christ. Jesus was a completely righteous, worthy, and just man. Ellen G. White, a prolific Christian writer, expressed the following: “We are to grow daily in spiritual loveliness. We shall fail often in our efforts to copy the divine pattern. We shall often have to bow down to weep at the feet of Jesus, because of our shortcoming and mistakes; but we are not to be discouraged.” (EGW. Selected Messages Book 1, 337) Statements like this produce a series of questions that men have been asking since Christ, as the perfect model, lived among us. Can a human being be like Jesus? Is it really possible to be different? Can humans grow and mature spiritually so they may live in peace with God and their neighbors? How? Living for Jesus means that, as a Christian, you have developed a personal relationship in which you recognize Christ as your Lord and Savior forever. This relationship will transform your character, making it similar to that of Christ. It will replace your values with the values of the Kingdom of God and make you part of the mission of Christ in the home, the church, and the world. This edition of Florida Focus is all about spiritual renewal. You’ll read how prayer and a renewed attitude can make all the difference. You will encounter touching testimonies of how the Lord has never left us, not even for a second. I pray this issue inspires you to renew and revitalize your relationship with Christ, our Savior, the Almighty. May the Lord bless you always,

Allan Machado, D.Min. Florida Conference President

Table of CONTENTS 4

INFUSING PRAYER IN YOUR LIFE

BIBLICAL PARENTING TIPS FOR THE NEW YEAR

LESSONS FROM THE PLAYGROUND

BEING FULLY PRESENT

GOD HAS ALWAYS WALKED WITH US

TRUTH LOST, AND FOUND AGAIN

LITTLE READERS: THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

21 22

NEUROPLASTICITY: THE WAY TO RENEW THE MIND

ABC BOOKS ABC DELIVERY SCHEDULE SOUTHERN STUDENT BUILDS COMMUNITY IN SPITE OF COVID-19

FLORIDA FOCUS is published quarterly by Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® and mailed free of charge to constituent members with nonprofit standard postage paid in Orlando, Florida.

Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® 351 S. State Road 434, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714-3824 (407) 644-5000 • www.floridaconference.com • floridafocus@floridaconference.com President: Allan Machado floridaconference Executive Secretary: Tim Goff floridaconf Treasurer: Elisa Rahming florida.conference Editor: Raquel Levy Editorial Staff: Gladys Neigel / Public Relations Department

Infusing Prayer in Your Life by Annie Pérez, Ph.D.

This year has been difficult. Many of us have experienced loss, new challenges, maybe a grim medical report. As we are coming to the end of 2021 and looking toward the new year, I challenge you to consider infusing prayer in your life. Infusion is a slow continuous introduction of an element into a foreign body. In this case, the element we are infusing into our lifestyle is prayer. When we consider people throughout history who were devoted to prayer, such as Gandhi, Helen Keller, Mother Teresa, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we realize we can significantly benefit 4

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from prayer. What can prayer accomplish in our lives that can be practical and effective? • People who pray are successful. As Ellen G. White wrote, the secret of success is when the divine power is united with human effort. Those who achieve the most remarkable results are those who depend on God. Joshua had developed an intimate relationship with God through prayer. “The man who commanded, ‘Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon,’ is the man who for hours lay prostrate

upon the earth in prayer in the camp of Gilgal” (PP pg. 509). As you pray, ask Christ to infuse you with success. • Prayer will make you a better person. When you pray and meditate on God’s sacrifice for you, a transformation begins. Then, as you pray, ask Christ to infuse you with the sweetness of Jesus. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Ask Christ every day to renew your mind. “Ask Him to help you speak words that will inspire those around you with hope and courage and draw you nearer to the Savior” (SD pg. 199). • Prayer will give you strength. “Our own strength is weakness, but that which God gives is mighty and will make everyone who obtains it more than conqueror” (PR pg. 174). One of the reasons Jesus was successful in His mission was the time He spent praying to The Father. Jesus faced the power of darkness because God gave Him the strength to do so. When we pray, we recognize our weakness and depend on God to provide us with strength. As you pray, ask Christ to infuse you with strength. Just realizing that God will never leave or forsake us gives us comfort and strength to continue. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” • With prayer, you have a friend. How many of us need a true friend who has our back? When we pray, we open our hearts to God as to a friend–a friend in good and bad times, who is present in sickness and in health, who is always cheering for you and desiring the best in your life. This is the kind of friendship we get with Christ. God desires an intimate relationship with us. “Prayer does not bring God down to us but brings us up to Him” (SC pg. 93). As you pray, ask Christ to infuse you with His friendship. If prayer can do so much for our lives, why don’t people pray? I did some internet research for the top reasons Christians don’t pray, and here are the top three: 1. Because all their needs are already met. When we live in a materialistic world, we define our needs as material. Most of us live comfortably, have too much to eat, have enough clothes to wear, and sometimes even rent a storage facility to store the excess. We live in a performance-oriented culture. We do not count emotional and spiritual needs as actual needs. We do not consider having a closer relationship with our Savior a real need. 2. Because we live in a culture of instant gratification. How many of us remember dial-up internet? Nowadays, we cannot even imagine waiting ten seconds for our stories to load on our smartphones. While at Costco, I stopped to speak with the lady handing out brownie samples. I asked her if people were interested in the brownies and was surprised to hear that people were not buying the bag of brownies because it needed to be

baked instead of already made. “Nobody wants to wait,” she said. The reality is that we live in an instant gratification society with instant messages, fast food, microwaves, and cars, and we have forgotten how to wait. God doesn’t respond to our prayers like a vending machine, and because of this reality, people don’t believe that prayer is effective and that God can hear us. They don’t believe prayer can work for them. 3. Because we forget to pray. How many of us have hurriedly left the house, without breakfast, flying down the highway (or logging in to the computer) only to realize we haven’t talked to God for hours? I certainly have. We get so caught up in our obligations, commitments, schedules, and selfish plans that we don’t prioritize time with God. We live life like God doesn’t mind, or we don’t need Him. We know that prayer provides more than physical benefits. There are so many spiritual benefits that await us, more than I can enumerate. For example, when we pray, we ask for God’s presence to be with us. Psalm 22:3 says that when we praise God, He sits in our midst. And we are promised in Matthew 18:20 that when we pray with two or three people, He is with us, too. What better experience than to be in the presence of God? In God’s presence, we are safe, have peace, feel loved, and are blessed. Thus, we can be a blessing to those around us. When we pray, let’s ask God to keep His promises. Psalms 146:6 reminds us that God is faithful forever. We can even claim the promises God made to someone else! We can see this example with Solomon when he said to God, “let your promise to my father David be confirmed.” And God kept the promises made to King David and blessed Solomon with wisdom, knowledge, and much, much more (2 Chronicles 1: 8-12). There are thousands of promises in the Bible waiting for us to claim them. Let’s do like Solomon and ask God to confirm these promises in our lives. Lastly, when we pray, let’s ask God for power. We can read how Jesus spent nights praying for God to give Him strength and power. Just as Jesus did, the early church also prayed until the place was shaken and the people were filled with the Holy Spirit, strength, and power (Acts 4:31). We are living in difficult times, and more than ever, we also need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and experience all the fruits of this relationship. We need to pray and ask God for power. Do you see why I challenged you to consider infusing prayer in your life? With prayer, you can be successful, prayer can make you a better person, prayer can give you strength, and with prayer, you can have a best friend. Let’s pray and ask God to be present in our lives, let’s ask Him to keep the promises we need, and most importantly, let’s ask Him to pour the Holy Spirit into our life. There is so much that prayer can do for our physical, emotional, and spiritual life. We need prayer like we need air, water, and food. I want to grow and benefit daily from having a life infused with prayer; how about you? FLORIDA FOCUS | WINTER 2021

BIBLICAL PARENTING TIPS FOR THE NEW YEAR by Jeffrey Thompson, Ph.D. Someone asked George H. W. Bush, former president of the United States, “What is your greatest accomplishment?” Instead of citing any of his political achievements over his long career, he answered, “My greatest accomplishment is that my children still come to see me.” In the new year, and even beyond, do you want your children to come to see you as a parent? If your answer is “Yes,” then you must renew your relationship with them. How? By implementing the timeless biblical guidelines spelled out in Deuteronomy 6:1-9.¹ 1. Live by the 10 Commandments. “This is the commandment, the rules, and regulations, that God, your God, commanded me to teach you to live out in the land you’re about to cross into to possess,” Deuteronomy 6:1. God gave His people instructions on how to live and serve Him. These commandments are so vital that they were written with “the finger of God,” according to Exodus 31:18. In other words, they are equivalent to His instruction manual for life. Do you want to know God’s will for your children? Go to His manual—no need to reinvent the wheel. 2. Make a positive impact intergenerationally. “This is so that you’ll live in deep reverence before God lifelong, observing all his rules and regulations that I’m commanding you, you and your children and your grandchildren, living good long lives,” Deuteronomy 6:2. Imagine, if you follow God’s instructions, you can influence three generations for God. Verse 2 says, “you and your children and your grandchildren.” 3. Obey and love God always with all you’ve got. “Listen obediently, Israel. Do what you’re told so that you’ll have a good life, a life of abundance and bounty, just as God promised, in a land abounding in milk and honey. Attention, Israel! God, our God! God the one and only! Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got,” Deuteronomy 6:3-5. 4. Prioritize His Word: and fathers, kindly teach your sons. “Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts... Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night,” Deuteronomy 6:6-7.

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God’s word must be priority number one in the life of every believer and parent. So, if we want to raise Godly children, we must first be Godly mothers and fathers. Parents must have a devotional life. It is not too late to start. Begin each day in the new year by going to God in prayer. Remember that children mimic their parents. I like the KJV translation of verse 7, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children...” The word teach means “to sharpen.” Parents must help children to be sharp and discerning as they deal with the vicissitudes of life. This call is for clear, incisive teaching. Parents have a weighty responsibility to instruct their children in matters of salvation daily. Wade Horn, the former president of the National Fatherhood Initiative, wrote an interesting article for Fatherhood magazine, illustrating that both humans and elephants fare better when fathers are around. Due to overpopulation, a good number of elephants were relocated from Kruger National Park in South Africa to Pilanesburg National Park. However, because the harnesses used for airlifting could not support the larger male elephants, many of them were left behind. Without their fathers around, many of the young male elephants began displaying “very un-elephant-like behavior, bullying the other animals.”² These young elephants needed role models to show them how elephants are supposed to act. What can mothers and fathers do to set a good example? “Tie [these commandments] on your hands and foreheads as a reminder inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates,” Deuteronomy 6: 8-9. The Jewish people took these words literally. For instance, they wore phylacteries upon the head and the inside of the left arm (see Exodus 3:9). Some Eastern countries inscribe words of desired blessing over doorways. What is the takeaway? Post God’s word everywhere! Post encouraging and uplifting scripture verses on your walls, electronic gadgets, appliances, doors, desk at work, social media pages, and inside your car. Text and tweet Bible verses like the leaves of autumn. ¹ Unless otherwise noted, scripture references are from the Message Bible. ² Initiative, N. F. (n.d.). Humans and elephants both fare better with dads around. www.fatherhood.org. Retrieved October 31, 2021, from www.fatherhood.org/ fatherhood/humans-and-elephants-both-fare-better-with-dads-around.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43: 18-19

LESSONS FROM THE PLAYGROUND How to Learn and Grow from COVID-19 by Candy Graves DeVore, LMFT, NCC, CCFP

Ella ran to her mother, tears streaming down her face and a frantic pitch to her voice. An older, bigger child had pushed the five-year-old down on the playground and she was distraught, indignant, and just plain mad. Truthfully, she had a right to be. She was playing nicely when, due to no fault of her own, she was derailed by something completely out of her control. She ran complaining to her mother in the hopes she could fix it all and make the ugliness of the experience go away. Her mom, Sienna, lovingly allowed her daughter to give in to her emotions for a season. Ella felt utter despair and dismay that this happened, grief and sadness at the loss of her safe place to play, anger that her mother wouldn’t punish the culprit, and indignation at the unfairness of it all. This went on for a few minutes, and then Sienna instituted a shift. She held her daughter at arm’s length and gently said, “Okay. Do you know what you need to do?” Still 8

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shuddering from the sobs, Ella looked up and asked, “Adjust my attitude and put a smile on my face?” “Yes, sweetheart. That’s what you need to do.” Ella snuggled back into her mom for about two minutes and then, as if shaking off an invisible cloak of sadness and oppression, she stood up, straightened her spine to stand tall, wiped her eyes with her hands and her nose with her forearm, took a deep breath, and headed back into the fray. While this playground experience was much briefer than the duration of many traumatic events, its overall message applies to these past two years and many of life’s experiences. Plainly put– when the pandemic hit, a bully entered the playground. The impact has been profound and universal in some ways, yet very individual and personal in others. So how do we cope with the aftermath? What have we learned that we can apply to life moving forward?

Seasons of grief are acceptable. Sienna knew her daughter needed time to grieve. If Sienna had shut her down and sent her back, Ella would have stuffed her feelings and she’d have a brooding, angry, and tired little girl on her hands. There would have been an attitude adjustment for sure, but not for the better. Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 states, “Everything on earth has its own time and its own season. There is a time…for crying and laughing, weeping and dancing” (CEV). We need to lament when we have experienced trauma or loss, but that time has an ending. We aren’t meant to sit in our sorrow. Just as the seasons change naturally, we are meant to grow past the point of injury and into the dancing. This takes time and patience, but the result is powerful. Self-compassion is necessary. The pandemic highlighted one very evident fact: while we can be hard on others, we are often excruciatingly hard on ourselves. Kindness dictates that we allow ourselves that moment to grieve and give ourselves permission to be vulnerable. Children seem to understand this naturally; it’s only in later years that we learn not to show weakness, sadness, or fear. It is important to recognize that good physical, mental, and spiritual health requires a level of self-compassion. The necessary actions needed to accomplish that compassion can be identified by asking one question, “How would you treat or advise a friend in this or a similar situation?” In the article Self-Compassion as a Christian Spiritual Practice, James C. Wilhoit states, “We allow ourselves to get away with murder when the crime is against our own soul.”1 How much more enjoyable would life be if we practiced Colossians 3:12. “You are always and dearly loved by God! So, robe yourself with virtues of God since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others” (TPT). Does it make sense that God would ask us to love others like that and not ourselves—we who are “divinely chosen”? Rarely do we treat ourselves with that level of care, but if we did, an automatic attitude adjustment would occur, creating immense space to love and care for others. Happiness is internal, not external. It’s easy to think that a change in external circumstances controls our happiness—to blame our discontent on a pandemic, a failed relationship, a devastating loss. Circumstances can indeed make life easier or harder, but our happiness isn’t dependent on what happens to, or around, us. “If (blank) would just happen, then I would be happy.” It is so easy to fall into this thinking trap, and make no mistake, it is a trap! Paul shares in Philippians 4:11 that he “learned how to be content” (NIV); David shares Psalm after Psalm filled with words that show his active choices to heave off that cloak of sadness and

oppression and stand tall with a different attitude. Recognizing this one fact can allow space for that attitude adjustment: my happiness is not dependent on what is happening to me but rather how I respond to it. Attitudes can be adjusted. The Bible is permeated with the message that we have power over our thoughts. The most direct is, “Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8, CEV). Another version says, “Keep your thoughts continually fixed on…” (TPT). Studies have shown that emotions last longer because we hold on to them. Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor postulates that “ninety seconds is all it takes to identify an emotion and allow it to dissipate while you simply notice it.”² If we pause and label the emotion we are experiencing, we can change the functioning of our brain and…wait for it… adjust our attitude. Ella’s playground experience could have been very different. The mantra her mother taught her of “adjust your attitude and put a smile on your face” is powerful. It embodies good mental, physical, and spiritual health. No doubt Ella’s experience on the playground affected her, but steps were followed that ensured she not only overcame the effect of the bully but went on to play successfully: • Ella sought help from someone she trusted. • Sienna made sure Ella had time to process her emotions. • Sienna instituted a shift reminding Ella that she could control her emotions. • Sienna provided a still place for Ella to make her decision. • Ella chose to be happy. • Ella went back to play. We can choose how we respond to the bully in the playground. The pandemic doesn’t have to be a devastating experience; encountering trauma doesn’t mean we have to be traumatized. We can become self-compassionate, learn to be still, notice how God fights our battles, and trust His wisdom. We can take time to process our emotions and determine if we want to hold on to them or choose to go a different path. We can decide to seek help from those we trust and determine what we want our experience on the playground to be. We can adjust our attitude, smile, and head back into the fray. ¹ Self-Compassion as a Christian Spiritual Practice. https://journals.sagepub. com/doi/full/10.1177/1939790918795628 ² 90 Seconds to Emotional Resilience. https://www.alysonmstone.com/90seconds-to-emotional-resilience/

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Neuroplasticity: The Way to Renew the Mind by Efrain Duany, D.Min., LMFT Neuroplasticity, the scientific term for the biblical “renewed mind,” is the brain’s ability to restructure after training and practice, thus creating new neuropathways in our brain. Neuroplasticity is the process that allows you to renew and revitalize your life. This is what makes personal growth, change, and “transformation” possible. Your brain is made up of approximately 100 billion neurons, or brain cells. These neurons store and transmit more information than you can ever imagine. Every time you learn a new word, a new piece of information, or an activity, these neurons change their connections with other neurons. This connection is weak at first, but with repetition, it strengthens over time[1]. Neuroplasticity change has three stages: chemical change, short-term changes in brain chemistry in response to new behavior; structural change, when new connections form, altering the brain’s structure; and functional change, when the entire brain network changes, becoming more efficient in its functions[2]. To better explain this process, reflect on learning to ride a bicycle. I remember when I first learned to ride a bike; it was scary at the beginning. The first thing I did was learn new information about the bike and how it works. I learned the physical movements used to make it go and make it stop. Then, I learned to read the environment and predict where and when to ride. All these separate pieces of information activated different parts of my brain and the neurons in that area. Once that pattern of activity has been activated a few times, new connections between those areas, and their neurons, were made. It’s almost like I created a bike riding pathway in my brain, which includes and links together neurons from the different fields of my brain. The first time I rode a bike, this pathway was weak. As I repeated the process over and over, the pathway got stronger. My brain learned precisely what it needed to do to keep me safe while I rode. It learned this process so well that after a while I didn’t even need to concentrate while riding. The pathway activated and played out all the parts necessary for the act without my conscious control. This is possible because of the neuroplasticity of my brain.

Why is it so hard to renew and revitalize our life? Your brain will try to take the path of least resistance. It likes to maintain homeostasis, to always stay the same. To help with this, it creates pathways for habits it can follow with ease. This is why you unconsciously continue repeating mistakes, maladaptive behavior, and why it’s hard to renew your life. To renew your mind, you need to create a new neuronal pathway in your brain, different from the one that has kept you chained to your past actions. The apostle Paul in Romans 12:2 wrote, “be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” The original word for “transform” is metamorphosis, which means changing into something completely different.

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Process of renewing your mind Change your attitude toward God – Matthew 6:33 Approach God with an attitude of reverence, cultivating a humble, repentant heart, and trusting in God’s grace. As you practice pursuing the presence of God, studying His Word, and praying on a continuum, you will build new neuropathways. Change your mindset American psychologist Carol Dweck suggested that most brains can be described as having either a fixed or a growth mindset[3]. If you have a fixed mindset, you avoid new challenges or behaviors out of fear of failure. You prefer to take the easy way out, ignore criticism, claim hopelessness, and feel threatened by the success of others. In contrast, a growth mindset means that learning is possible and desirable. You can accept challenges, overcome obstacles, expend effort, and be inspired by the success of others. Your mindset will define whether you experience revitalization or continue repeating the same mistakes. Change your thoughts One way to explain this complex process is using the basic concept of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT argues that the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we act are all influenced by each other [4]. Everything starts with a thought. Your thoughts influence your emotions and behavior. Your behavior influences your character, and your character affects your destiny. The Apostle Paul talks about the importance of thought, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Therefore, when you decide to change and revitalize your life, you must find the thoughts connected to your behavior and bring those thoughts “captive to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5. If you continually interrupt a thought and redirect it, the new pathways will become the first go-to when this repetitive thought arrives. For example, if you are troubled by a reoccurring thought that you know to be a lie, you could tell your mind the truth every time the lie interrupts your thinking. This way, you will rewire your brain. It is possible to renew your mind by changing your attitude toward God, changing your mindset, and changing your thoughts. All these activities will create new neuronal pathways in your brain. The more you repeat them, they will weaken your old way of thinking, your old neuronal connections, and revitalize your experience with God. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity [3] Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House. [4] Beck, J. S. (2020). Cognitive Behavior Therapy (3rd ed.). Guilford Press

Being Fully Present by Alexander E. Schlussler

In my early thirties, I lived in the mountains of Colorado. Each morning I traveled through the most picturesque pass on my way to work. I listened to praise music and enjoyed the amazing scenery the Lord had created. Each day as I started my drive, I prayed, “Lord, may I always be mindful of the beauty You have created for me.” I focused on all that was around me as I made my way to and from work, living in the moment and enjoying the ride. One day, things had not gone well at work. As I drove home, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of everything bad that had transpired. I pulled into my driveway and realized I did not remember seeing any of the scenery which usually gave me such joy. I traveled the same roads, yet I saw nothing because my attention was focused on what happened earlier and what I had to do about it in the future. My mind was not engaged in the present, so I missed what was happening around me. Have you ever had a similar experience? Have you driven from one place to another without a memory of the trip because you were not focused on what was happening in the present? There is a term that has become very popular, being mindful. Being mindful, or mindfulness, is to be fully present in the here and now. It is to pull one’s awareness and focus, to pay attention to what is happening in the present moment. While other faith practices have adopted this concept, being mindful is spoken of in many ways in the Bible. The psalmist declared, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” Psalm 118:24 ESV. We are being told to rejoice in the present moment, to find joy in the here and now. Jesus told us to focus on today, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes,” Matthew 6:34 MSG. How do you see God in your daily life? Are you aware that He is ever-present? Jesus said, “I am with you always.” However, we do not always feel His presence in our everyday lives. We may know He is there when we read our Bible or during Sabbath worship, but we miss Him in the simple details of our life. God desires to be with us in every aspect of our lives; His name “Immanuel,” which means God with us, declares it. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus,

we are given the Holy Spirit to be with us and in us. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you,” John 14:16-17 ESV. It is all too easy to allow the stress and pressure of life to stand in the way of our recognizing that God is with us. Nevertheless, it is feasible to practice and discover how to be aware of God’s presence. Being aware of God’s presence is a spiritual discipline, just as prayer, reading the Bible, and worship. With time we develop our ability to form ever-deepening connections with God through the development of these disciplines. The most profound expression of our spirituality is to be fully immersed in God’s presence. We can say that the daily practice of being in His presence draws us ever closer and deeper in our relationship with Jesus. The most important skill used in life coaching is being wholly present. The coach’s ability to be fully engaged in the conversation will always determine the level of success in the coaching relationship. This level of engagement is only achieved by being present, committed, and giving attention to the person being coached. The same holds true in our personal relationships, and it will determine how successful they are. When I think back to the time I traveled through the mountains, the most wonderful thing was the peace I felt as I experienced the goodness of God through His creation. Being mindful, focusing on the present, and not allowing anything to infringe on my time with God was the key to that peace that passes all understanding. That focused time and place where we sit in the presence of God, longing to hear His voice, is the place we should all desire to be. “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” Psalm 62:1-2,5 ESV FLORIDA FOCUS | WINTER 2021

God has Always Walked with Us For almost two years now, we have faced new and unexpected challenges. Yet, instead of losing faith, the Lord’s church continued to grow, adjusting to ministry in an ever-changing world. Florida Conference is blessed with more than 80 lay pastors, volunteer pastors who work fervently to fulfill the Lord’s mission of ministering to a broken world, planting churches, and growing disciples. Here are just three of their incredible testimonies: 600 Days of Prayer - In Spirit and Truth On March 14, 2020, our spiritual world was impacted by lifechanging news. COVID-19 was here; it was aggressive, contagious, and deadly. We got the news that our churches needed to close, and suddenly everything changed. For more than 10 years, we had been praising, praying, and breaking bread together as a Christian family. How would we face the unexpected? How would we reinvent ourselves in such painful and challenging moments? How would we continue to minister to the church when we were vulnerable to a deadly virus? How would we turn weakness into strength, from a distance, without our place of worship?

so we had to give it up. It was then that we experienced true worship, in Spirit and Truth. Several of our church members were hospitalized at various times, and when they connected to our prayer line, their doctors and nurses were so touched to see how many people were actively praying for them. Some nurses cried when they heard our heartfelt prayers, and many doctors would wait to speak to the patient if they were connected to the prayer line. One day, the local news reported that telephone lines in our area were down. We thought we’d surely miss our prayer line that night, breaking our continuous record, but they were fixed right before we were set to connect. We have been so blessed and loved. Our church is stronger than ever, strengthened by the Word, with no doubts or fears. God intentionally let His presence be felt in us every day. Although these times have been painful and sad, we can say that we truly are a blessed people. - Daily Sosa, lay pastor, North Miami Beach Spanish SDA Church

God used Celeste Urena, who told us about an online service she used for her Sabbath school leaders. To keep our entire church united, it had to be functional for children, youth, adults, and the elderly. With her recommendation, we tried a free conference call platform, and, Glory to God, the whole church could participate. From the very next week, this is how our church remained connected. God took absolute control, and we continued to trust in Him. Our online network was far-reaching; we connected with other states and several other countries. Wounded and lost hearts were rescued, several were baptized, others sought churches in their states, and many spread the gospel to their families. In 2021, we completed more than 600 Days of Prayer. Every day at 6:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., we joined in prayer as a church family. God has manifested Himself every one of those days. We’ve had to face moments of pain due to the loss of our friends and church members. We could no longer afford to keep our church building, 12

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A Life Renewed & A Young Leader On August 14, I was not feeling well, so I went to the doctor and received a COVID-19 test. The test indicated I was negative for the virus, so I thought everything was okay. My family had quarantined, thinking the worst, but we hugged and were very happy with this news. The following week, I was getting worse, so I went once again to the doctor. A chest X-ray and another COVID-19 test confirmed I was now positive for coronavirus.

The virus had caused pneumonia and significant damage to my lungs. My oxygen levels were dangerously low, so I was admitted immediately. I remember that I couldn’t breathe, and nothing after that.

A few months later, I was made director of the Spanish group. God continued to bless the ministry, and we had to move away from Lake Wales. Wilfredo Martinez remained as director of the group until lay pastor Jose Escobar was appointed.

I don’t know how many days I was on oxygen; the oxygen was so strong I couldn’t speak. When I could finally stand, they had to teach me how to walk because my body had forgotten. When I left the hospital and went home, my wife had to buy me a walker, and I’d lost my recent memory. At one point, I thought I was losing my mind; but God restored me.

In 2019, Beth and I retired from a community service ministry, Helping Hands, which she began in 2001 before becoming Adventist and later integrated into the church. The same day we decided to retire, Beth felt impressed to ask, “Why don’t we begin the work of planting a church?”

While hospitalized, I felt like I was losing my spirit, so I asked God to change me. I asked Him to make me a better father, minister, husband. Right away, my spirit was renewed, and I had a dream where I saw Jesus. He told me that to make impactful change, I’d have to share tasks with others and train members of the church, passing the torch to others. I still had terrible pain and prayed for Jesus to take it away. The next day I waited for the pain, and it did not come. All the while, God kept reminding me to do His will and His will only. I would call my daughter, Esther Joy Pierre, from the hospital to sing to me and pray for me. At twelve years old, Esther continued to lead children’s ministry, and she and my wife took over the prayer line in my absence. When my wife’s health also declined from COVID-19, Esther stepped up and led the prayer line herself. She kept the church engaged, and we were all blessed by her willing spirit and leadership. The Lord pulled me out of sickness, renewed my spirit, and blessed me with an amazing family and church family. When God has done something for you, it is not for you to keep. It is for you to share and tell others that God can do the same for them. - Garry Pierre, lay pastor, Nerija of Vero Beach Company

We’d heard requests for a Spanish church in Titusville for many years. That same week, we met with three couples who had also expressed interest and got to work. We found a small room in a cultural center and, between all of us, paid for it ourselves. We had to carry all of our equipment and were very restricted with our time there, but the Lord blessed us greatly, and soon we had more than 60 people coming regularly. Of those, 20 were visitors who were not Adventist. Beth and I lived right next to a Nazarene church, and one day we were impressed to talk to them about renting their building for our growing group. Beth walked in one Sunday and met with the pastor, who heard our request and asked one question, “What denomination are you?” When she told him Seventh-day Adventist, the pastor exclaimed, “Oh, I know you guys! You do so much work in the community.” He also shared that he’d attended an SDA church with his grandmother in his youth. God opened this door for us, and the Nazarene church board unanimously approved our request. When we asked the pastor for the price, he said, “Nothing. You are in the same business we are, the work of growing a church.” We were astonished, with renewed confidence that God was leading our path. We paid only our portion of the water and electricity usage for many months, and when we continued to grow, Florida Conference helped us acquire a contract. Like for many others, the pandemic brought challenges and uncertainty to our church. Yet, by the grace of God, Titusville Spanish was officially recognized as a Mission Group on May 29, 2020. We praise the Lord for how He has provided for us; we received an incredible outpouring of donations, equipment, supplies, and much more. I have no doubts that God wants this, His church, to continue to bless His people.

The Lord Opens Doors In 2004, my wife Beth Frau-Velez, who attended the Lake Wales SDA Church, began translating the Sabbath programs for a young Mexican man named Jesus Torres. Jesus, in turn, invited his cousin, and his cousin invited his girlfriend.

- Cristino Velez, lay pastor, Titusville Spanish Mission Group, and wife Beth Frau-Velez

The small Spanish group met in the mother’s room, but God blessed the group, and it grew rapidly. One Sabbath, when I went to pick up my wife at the end of the service, the group went out to the parking lot to greet me. I liked the gesture, and soon after, I started taking Bible studies. Pastor Onelio Alfonso baptized me, and Pastor Amado Luzbet continued to prepare me, then anointed me as an elder. FLORIDA FOCUS | WINTER 2021

TRUTH LOST, AND FOUND AGAIN

by Anthony “Micky” Franklin, Jr.

I was not born a Seventh-day Adventist. I was raised in a Catholic home and was an altar boy when I was younger. It wasn’t until my late 20s and early 30s that I realized the Bible alone should be my only rule of faith. After finding out that my wife was pregnant with my daughter, I got on my hands and knees and asked God to change my heart. I knew I had to make changes now that I was facing the responsibility of being a father. You see, I was an alcoholic and also liked to party with friends at nightclubs. Right after that prayer, a Revelation seminar flyer came in the mail. A couple of years later, after Bible studies, I became a baptized member of the Cape Coral Seventhday Adventist Church in 2011. Pastor Roger Lucas and the Holy Spirit brought the truth that set me free and saved my life! 14

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Heartaches, Accidents, and Mistakes Unfortunately, my wife and daughter, who was five at the time, did not attend church with me. I was attacked by family members who said I had joined a cult. From 2011 to 2017, I was alcoholfree, a deacon in the church, a productive citizen, and a successful business owner. Yet, it crushed my spirits not having my family share the experience of the truth I’d found. I thank God for my mother-in-law Shirley Tussey who was like a rock for me; she was a faithful member and was baptized as well. I couldn’t understand why God wouldn’t save my family the way He had saved me. The biggest heartache was that I was not allowed to take my daughter to church, and the division between my wife and me almost caused a separation.

In 2016, the son of a dear friend of mine passed away from leukemia at seven years old. I had seen so many miracles throughout our church that I was sure he would be healed when we all prayed for him. When he passed away, I became very angry with God. In the following year, I stopped praying and lost my connection with the Holy Spirit because of my disappointment within the walls of my family and the death of my friend’s little boy. In the moments I should have leaned on Him most, I let go. I felt like a hypocrite when teaching Sabbath School classes for the next year. I began to trickle back into old habits of the world while walking into church with a big hole in my heart and emptiness within me. I left the church to work on my marriage and everything started to unravel. From 2017-2020, I became a monster, almost got divorced, started drinking and partying again, even doing drugs, steroids, and seeing other women while still married. In June 2019, I was involved in a car accident that nearly took my life. Yet, like many other times in my life, a guardian angel was sent to shield me. Even in my great apostasy of what I had become, God still loved me. I was hospitalized for almost two weeks, but by the grace of God, I made it through. In the City of Angels When I returned to my work in boat sales, I received a call from a gentleman in Washington state who asked me to deliver a yacht to him before the Fourth of July. I saw it as the perfect opportunity to get out of town and escape my troubles and embarrassment for what I had become after letting go of Jesus. I called up a former girlfriend and asked her if she’d like to meet me in Washington and hang out on the west coast. She said yes, and we decided to also drive to Los Angeles since we had never been. As a country boy from South Florida, LA was a vastly different experience. Everything is fast-paced, and someone is always trying to sell you something. You are never alone when you walk down the street; it’s in constant buzz. After five days, it was time for her to go back to Florida, leaving me alone in the hotel. I remember getting into the elevator that next morning to get breakfast, and the weight of the Holy Spirit’s power

fell upon me. It spoke into my conscience, “Micky, what are you going to do with your life?” I talked with God and told Him I wanted Him in my life but didn’t know how to get back to Him. After years of giving in to temptations and the pleasures of the world, I had no desire to pray or to study His Word. I needed help. Even as I started to walk the three blocks to the restaurant, the morning felt different. At 10:30 a.m., the streets were empty, a sight I had not seen once since arriving in Los Angeles. Finding that strikingly odd, I shook it off, looked down at my phone, and continued to walk. I was halfway there when I looked up to see a small elderly lady walking towards me. She took short, unassuming steps and looked down, barely moving. As she got closer, I noticed she had something in her hands and thought she must be selling something. I told myself not to take anything she offered, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Instead of trying to sell me anything, she looked down at the sidewalk and slowly handed me a booklet. I heard a clear voice telling me, “Micky, take the book.” I grabbed it from her outstretched hand, and not even then did she look up from the ground. As soon as I opened the book, it looked familiar. It was a book on the Sabbath. I immediately realized it was Seventh-day Adventist and turned to ask her what church she attended, but she had disappeared. The streets were again empty, and this petite older lady, who I’d seen moving at a snail’s pace just seconds ago, had vanished before my very eyes. I read the booklet cover to cover, and keep it tucked away in my Bible case to this day. My road back to Jesus was still bumpy after that. It was a long process, full of heartache and trauma, but I gave my heart to Jesus and was led to the baptismal waters in 2021. After a message by Pastor Steve Jencks at the evangelistic series ReFocus in the Cape Coral Seventh-day Adventist Church, I answered the call and asked to be rebaptized. We serve a loving creator who is long-suffering for His children. I thank God every day for sticking by me, even through my stubbornness. The blood of Christ has saved my life; even when I walked through the shadows of evil, God always sent an angel to protect me from myself. FLORIDA FOCUS | WINTER 2021

Have you heard about the fruit of the spirit? Just like a tree gives fruit when we take care of it, our actions are the fruit we produce. God wants us to be good and do good, and when we take care of our relationship with Him, He helps us to do good by sending the Holy Spirit to guide us.

The Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

LOVE

Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

JOY The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with Joy. Psalm 126:3 Joy isn’t always the same as happiness. Happiness is a feeling that goes away, but joy lives in our heart if we follow Jesus. Jesus is our joy, He has done so many things for us. For each point of the star, think of something Jesus did for you and write it down. 16

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1. 6.

Joy 4.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

KINDNESS Be kind and compassionate to each other. Ephesians 4:32

PEACE

Color Me In!

Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need…The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it. Philippians 4:6-7

Challenge: Count the confetti and for each piece think of one kind thing you can do for someone else. Too many to count? That’s okay, just do lots of kind things!

PATIENCE Always be humble and gentle. Be patient and accept each other with love. Ephesians 4:2 Challenge: Count to ten…slowly…before completing the connect the dots. Have patience!

GOODNESS Your goodness and love will be with me all my life. Psalm 23:6 Because God is good, we can be good to others. The story of The Good Samaritan is a great example. When he saw someone hurt, he stopped to help and took him to safety. Can you finish the maze to get the injured man to the inn?

FAITHFULNESS In the Bible, we can see that God is always faithful. He always does what He says He will, and we should, too! Grab your Bible and fill in this verse about God’s promises.

Your word, Lord, is ; it stands Your continues through all

Answers: eternal; firm; havens; faithfulness; generations.

Psalm 119: 89-90 (NIV)

in the

GENTLENESS Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Philippians 4:5 What’s the softest thing you’ve ever touched? Your pet? A blanket? Cotton balls? Fuzzy slippers? If it felt nice, it’s because gentle things make us feel good. Gentle words are the same. Color in this quilt and in each square write something nice you can say to someone.

SELF-CONTROL God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid. He gave us a spirit of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 Self-control is saying no to things that are bad for us and listening to God who shows us what is good. In order to listen to God when we feel out of control, we should stop, think, and pray.

Stay in Control

Stop

what you are about to do or say

Think

about your choices

what will please GOD

Have you retired from denominational employment? We want to reconnect with you! Please send the following information to treasury@floridaconference.com: • Your Name • Home Address • Phone Number • Email Address • Year You Retired

• Conference You Retired From Then keep your eyes open for other communications from us! Thank you for your years of service!

Sharing Book of the Year The Final Hope: Three Messages for an Anxious World

by Clifford Goldstein

A great way to share your faith! The Final Hope is subsidized by the Florida Conference and Southern Union, we work to keep the cost low so each member can afford to share it.

Sale

$1.00 Regular $2.49

Get ABC Express Delivery to Florida Keys Camp Meeting! Call 407-644-4255 and place your order before February 15, 2022.

FLORIDA KEYS CAMP MEETING with Shawn Boonstra

February 18 – 20, 2022 You are invited to a special Camp Meeting with Shawn Boonstra in the beautiful Florida Keys. Join us for a weekend of spiritual revival and a time of renewal. Enjoy waterfront nature and beautiful weather as we open God‘s word together all weekend long. You can stay in the available rental housing or pitch a tent on the campground—reservations required. Camp Sawyer is located on Overseas Hwy, Mile Marker 34, Oceanside and does not allow pets. Bring your favorite vegetarian dish for Sabbath fellowship dinner and a comfortable chair. For information, please get in touch with Laura Saladino at (423) 972-7694. See you at Camp Meeting!

FLORIDA ABC LOCATIONS: 20

FLORIDA FOCUS | WINTER 2021

A BETTER CHOICE

351 S SR 434 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 407-644-4255

CAMP KULAQUA GENERAL STORE 23400 NW 212th Ave High Springs, FL 32643 386-454-7956

www.floridaconference.com/ministries/abc

January 30

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Port Saint Lucie SDA Church West Palm Bch 1st SDA Church Pompano Beach SDA Church Margate SDA Church Ambassador SDA Church Plantation SDA Church

March 6

February 6

January 23 11:00 AM 12:30 PM 1:30 PM 2:45 PM 3:45 PM 6::00 PM

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February 27

Inverness SDA Church Homosassa SDA Church Brooksville SDA Church Spring Hill SDA Church New Port Richey SDA Church Clearwater SDA Church St. Petersburg SDA Church

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February 13 8:30 AM 9:45 AM 11:00 AM 12:15 PM 3:45 PM

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- To order, call: (407) 644-4255 or email floridaABC@floridaconference.com - Our delivery van will deliver your order to a church near you on Sundays. - Get everything you need without having to pay shipping or drive far.

FLORIDA FOCUS | WINTER 2021

Southern Student Builds Community in Spite of COVID-19 by Angela Baerg Ever since Abi Niemeyer enrolled in Forest Lake Academy (FLA), she had looked forward to graduation. Wearing a ceremonial cap and gown and marching down the aisle to Pomp and Circumstance with all of her friends seemed like the perfect way to celebrate their tight-knit community and special achievements. COVID-19, however, had other plans for the high school seniors that year. As a seemingly never-ending pandemic full of masks and restrictions rolled out before her, Abi realized that there would be no graduation that year and that she would have to build community in different ways. Making Friends An active member at the Forest Lake Church of Seventh-day Adventists, Abi loved planning and strategizing with the Youth Council. She was on the council for four years and especially enjoyed planning events and bonding with her friends on their lake retreats. As FLA class pastor her senior year, she felt called to find a new way for students to support each other spiritually. After much brainstorming and prayer, she launched a small group initiative and encouraged her friends to become leaders and grow closer to Christ together. When it came time to choose a college, she was intrigued to learn that Southern Adventist University has a very active LifeGroup program. Southern’s Office of Ministry and Missions provides support for approximately 75 student-led LifeGroups that meet weekly, with hundreds of students participating. There are six different types of groups—activitybased, Bible study, book-based, grief support, needs-based, and topical—but all of them 22

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provide opportunities for students to connect with each other and with God in a small group setting. For Abi, it was a priority to attend a college with a strong body of believers who build each other up and are active in ministry.

in the United States. She discovered that an estimated 24.9 million victims are trapped in modern-day slavery. She was deeply moved and felt called to do whatever she could to make a difference.

“Psalms 13:20 says that ‘he who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm,’” Abi says. “I am very aware that I’m heavily influenced by the people I surround myself with, so I wanted to be intentional about who that would be.”

One of her top priorities will be campus education to raise awareness of the issue. Another will be finding ways to partner with a program in Atlanta that provides care for adult victims of human trafficking through outreach, 24-hour hotline services, safe home services, and long-term program placement. It also offers a stable, safe space for victims to seek refuge. Abi plans to fundraise on campus and coordinate an event to collaborate with the program for Global Service Youth Day.

During her freshman year at Southern, Abi worked as a LifeGroup coach. Each group that she coached had a different focus, be it exercise, relationships, unity in the body of Christ, or The Desire of Ages. All of the groups met weekly to encourage each other on their spiritual walks. As a leader, she was also in a LifeGroup made up of other female coaches. Together they studied the Bible, did leadership training, made crafts, and helped each other through the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It helped me feel so connected because it was like immediately walking into my first year of college with a built-in family,” Abi remembers. “I loved meeting with the same group of girls for the whole year. It gave me an incredible sense of peace and community.” Reaching Out This year, Abi is excited to take on a new challenge: the role of student co-coordinator for local outreach. In particular, she hopes to combat human trafficking. During her freshman public speaking class, she spoke on the topic and in preparing her speech, she was stunned to learn how prevalent it is

Looking Ahead Although the last two years have not been what Abi expected, she has chosen to embrace the spirit of Matthew 6:33-34 and seek first the kingdom of God, exchanging her worries for God’s strength. Her college experience so far has held many challenges, but it also has brought some of her biggest personal growth. In the midst of difficulties, Abi continues to search for the positives.

“The only constant we have is our walk with God.” “You think you know what things will be like, and when circumstances change, it can test your faith,” says Abi, now a sophomore finance major. “The only constant we have is our walk with God. I’m so glad I chose Southern. I wanted to be in a nurturing environment where my faith would flourish and grow, and in spite of COVID-19, God has multiplied my blessings here.”

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID ORLANDO FL PERMIT NO 992